Chaired by Ms. Stella Chubiyo Erebor of Nigeria, the group's final meeting before the 2026 Council session heard an update from the ITU Secretariat on the implementation status of the Child Online Protection (COP) Initiative.

The discussion was based on thematic contributions from ITU Member States and Sector Members, which addressed:

• The successful practices for protecting children's data online and approaches to responding to illicit content on the internet

• The risks to children's mental and physical health associated with increased screen time

• The implementation of national campaigns to enhance digital literacy and raise awareness of online risks among children and parents

• The development of tools to protect children's data privacy on social networks

• The assessment of threats related to children and youth using conversational artificial intelligence (AI).

Furthermore, continuing the discussion initiated during the open interregional consultations on child online protection at WTDC-25 in Baku, a representative of the Center for Global IT Cooperation — a member of the RCC's working (auxiliary) bodies — presented key COP projects being implemented by the Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment.

Additionally, on the sidelines of the meeting, a ceremony was held to sign the Joint Statement on Artificial Intelligence and the Rights of the Child. The signatories also shared their vision for implementing the 11 recommendations outlined in the document.

The document was signed by 60 stakeholders, including UN specialized agencies and international and regional organizations that endorse its principles.

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